Car-coupling



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. BOYD.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 269.176. vPatented 1360.19, 1882.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. BOYD.

CAR GOUPLING.

35M. Patented Dec. 19, 1882.

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SPECIFICATION forming pere of Letters Patent No. 269,176, dated December 19, 1882.

.Application filed May 1:2, 1882.4 No model.)

Figures l and 2 represent longitudinal sec-` tional views of the coupling in different' positions. Fig. 3 is a front elevation ofthe coupling; Fig. 4, a top view, and'Fig. 5 a bottom view, of the. same.

Similar letters of reference in the several tigures denote the saine parts.

My invention has for its object to provide'a car-coupling which can be set to couple automatically with an approaching car, and which can be adjusted so as to couple with cars of different heights or be uncoupled without the necessity of goinglbetween the cars for either of such purposes.

To these ends the invention consists, rst, in improved means for holding the couplingpin elevated until released by the approach.- ing car; secondly, in means for holding the link in line with the draw-head, so as toinsure its entrance into the draw-head of the opposite car; thirdly, in the improved manner of mounting thedraw-bar; fourthly,-in improved means for elevating the draw-head to effect a coupling with cars of different heights; and, fthly, in certain details of construction and combinations ofparts, all ot' which I will rst describe, and then point out specifically in the claims. t t

In the accompanying drawings, the drawhead of the coupling is shown constructed in two parts, A and B. The part A consists of an enlarged central portion, o, a forward bifurcated extension, ct', and a rear extension, o2, while the partB consists of a collar, b, a tubular portion, b', and a draw-head proper, b2. The part B is adapted to slide back and forth upon the part A, and a pin or bolt, c, passingthrough the collar b and extending through the slot of the bifurcated extension, limits the motion of said part B upon part A and prevents said part B from turning. The portion b' is adapted to Vland 2.

play back and forth in and be supported bya U- shaped guiding and supporting yoke, D, while the rear extension or bar, a2, ofthe part A is adapted to work with slight play in and be supported by an oscillating guide-block, E, whose journals g are mounted in suitable bearings, h, secured to theunder side ofthe car, as shown. Mounted upon the extension or bar a2, between a ilangeor collar, j', and the block E, is a spiral spring, I. Also mounted on the bar a2, in rear of the block E, and between it and a screw-nut, J, is another spiral spring, K. These springs operate to prevent serious concussion and breaking of the parts when the cars are started or stopped. .Pivoted between iianges on the upper part of the enlarged portion a of part A is abel1-crank lever, L, the

.forward arin'of which is provided with aplate or block, l., and the` rear or upper arm of which `is connected by a short chain, m, to a lever, M,

operated by a rod, N, or other contrivance, arranged at the sideof the car, or on the platform, or on the top of the car, as desired. Another chain, o, is secured to the forward arin ofthe bell-crank, and extends thence un-A der a small antifriction pulley, p, thence around a second pulley, q, and thence forward to the pin or boltv c on the movable part B ot' the draw-head, to which it is connected. The forward end of the part a is open and adapted to receive and hold ina horizontal position the coupling-link Q, as will bc hereinafter de- Mounted upon thedraw-head proper,l

scribed. b2, is a metal plate, It, of rectangular shape, and adapted to play back and forth in a slot, i", in said draw-head proper, as shown in Figs. A perforation, s, ismade vertically through both parts of the plate R, and a corresponding perforation, t, is made in the upper portion ot' the draw-head proper, and another perforation, t', in the lower part of the same. When the plate Ris drawn forward the coupling-pin U, inserted therein, will rest upon or near the edge of the perforation t,- but when the plate R isstruck or moved back by the draw-head of the approaching car the pin is moved back and drops down through both perforations in the draw-head proper, and also through the link entered therein, thus effecting the coupling.

IOO

When it is desired to couple a car having the link in its draw-head with a car set for coupling, but having no link, it is necessary to iirst bring thelink substantially parallel to the length of the draw-bar in order that it may be properly directed into the mouth ofthe drawhead proper of the car to which connection is to be made. To accomplish this it is only necessary for the operator from his position at the side, on the platform, or on the top of the car to move forward the rod N, which swings the lever M, and causes said lever to draw upon the chain m and rock the bell-crank leverL backward. The rocking ot' the bell-crank lever causes it to draw upon the chain o and slide backward bodily the part B of the coupling, and causes the coupling-pin to draw the link into the open end or throat of the parta', as shown in Fig. 1, thus drawing1 the link into horizontal position.

As a means for raising and adjusting the draw-head vertically, so as to enable the link to be entered into the draw-head of a car ot' any height, l provide a bell-crank lever, V, pivoted in a slot of the U-shaped guiding and supporting yoke at fr, and adapted to be rocked by means of a rod, W, extending to the side ot' the car and operated at the side of the car, or by suitable contrivances from the platform or top of the car. This arrangement enables the draw-bar to be raised and lowered and kept under perfect control in entering the link in the draw-head of the approaching car. As soon as the coupling is effected and the cars start up, the link is drawn out of the open end or month ofthe part a', and,catching onto the pin, draws, by means of the pin, the part B of the coupling forward. When the part B reaches the limit of its forward movement the plate or block l on the forward arm of the bell-crank lever L drops down between the collar b of the part B and the enlargement a of the part A, a nd locks the parts A and B from further longitudinal movement upon each other in either direction. A rod or hamm, projects rearward from the part A through a perforation in the oscillating' guide-block E, and prevents the draw-bar from turning on its longitudinal axis. The tubular portions a and b of the parts A and B respectively being slotted longitudinally, as above described, any sand or dirt entering through the mouth of the draw-head made of wrought-iron and boiler-iron or castiron, as may in practice be found most desira- Having thus described my invention,Iclaim as newl l. The combination, with the draw-bar supported at its rear ends by the oscillating block E, and guided and supported at its forward end by the guide-yoke D, ofthe bell-crank le ver V and the rod W, whereby the outer end of the draw-bar carrying the link is enabled to be raised or lowered, so as to cause the link to enter the draw-heads ot' cars of different heights, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, with the part A of the draw-head, of the part B, sliding thereon, and the bell-crank lever and chain o for ei'ecting the backward movement of the part B, substantially as described.

' 3. The combination of the part A and the `part B, sliding thereon, with the bell-crank lever having the block or plate l, adapted tto lock the parts A and B from longitudinal movement in either direction, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the stationarypart A, having the open end or throat for receiving the link, of the sliding part B and the coup ling-pin, whereby upon the rearward movement of the part B the link is drawn within the throat of part A and maintained in horizontal position, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the rearward extension a2 ot' the part A, of the oscillating guide-block E and the springs I and K on opposite sides of said block, substantially as described.

y 6. AThe combination, with the rearward extension a2 of the part A, of the guide-block E and the har w, working through a perforation in the block E, and operating to prevent the turning of the draw-bar on its longitudinal axis, ksubstantially as described.

JOHN BOYD. 

